Summary: Interviews with people about the tension caused by the rathyatra. One interview with a person who helped prevent a confrontation; he talks about the failure of the police in delivering what they had promised in the peace committee meetings. He also talks about the difference between the current year's rathyatra and the previous ones and talks about local politics and the culpability of the Congress party in the growth of right wing fundamentalism. Last two interviews are with people from #AD4 who were arrested by the police while they were rescuing people when their basti was attacked by rioting mobs.

This video is part of a collection documenting the events of three days in #AD4, a slum colony in Ahmedabad city, after the burning of Hindu activists on the Sabarmati Express at Godhra station on Feb 27th, 2002.

The Godhra killings were shocking in themselves, but the Hindu right-wing's systematic targeting of Muslim citizens for three days after Godhra shook the faith of all who had believed the country to be a secular democracy where the rule of law is upheld (for the most part), by the State.

For three days – Feb 27th, 28th and March 1st - the state government and state police allowed the right-wing mobs to "retaliate". They raped, looted, burned and murdered freely. We know this through thousands of first-hand accounts related by the victims and witnesses of the rampaging mobs and indifferent government agencies.

About a month after the post-Godhra carnage, citizen journalists formed the Shared Footage Group that travelled through the relief camps, decimated slums and housing societies to record people’s accounts of what happened in those three days. The stories are varied. Victims in some cases comprised Dalit Hindus, and saviours, in some instances, included local political leaders and policemen with a conscience.

The story of this Basti, (locality) told through these events here, is relatively painless. Relatively, because people lost everything they possessed, but remained alive. Here is their telling of what happened to them in their own homes in those 'days of calamity' or "qayamat ke din".

12th July (camp) - Voices heard wanting to tell their story to the interviewer

28th February
Interviewer asks young man to identify himself.
He does. He has been in the camp
Interviewer: since when?
28th February
Interviewer asks if he went back in the interim period.
Once for survey, with the survey team and once more for police statement. Not after that.
Police statement
camp
survey

Bajrang Dal
Fear
Inteviewer asks a young camp refugee to share the day's happenings (12th July) and his thoughts
Last 1 - 2 months, people have been scared of this day. They were haunted by the violent incidents of 28th February in areas where Muslims were in a Minority, and feared a repeat. Pleas to not take out the Rath yatra were not heeded. Moharram processions had not taken out, to avoid escalation of tension. But the VHP and Dal (Bajrang Dal) were adamant. So, even those who lived in hitherto incident-free areas have moved to safer areas. By evening, the rath yatra had passed-off peacefully.
Moharram
Rath yatra
VHP
minority areas

Interviewer asks when they realized it was over
Till 7-8 pm there were fears of possible attacks. But thankfully nothing happened
Fears
attacks

Dariyapur
Doordarshan
Interviewer asks whether they were getting any news from other volatile areas about the Rath Yatra
No! He first learnt about the Rath yatra's progress at 3.30pm from a live telecast on Doordarshan at a Paan Shop. It was 3-localities away and was about to leave Saraspur. The channel suddenly switched from Rath Yatra coverage to news. This sudden switch created more fear among people.
Interviewer: Release?
Man refers to the telecast on Doordarshan.
Interviewer: was it 'live' telecast?
Yes! But it was stopped before it reached Daryapur.
Interviewer: Then fear spread?
Yes.
Rath Yatra
Saraspur
live
telecast

old lady

Interviewer asks camera to pan right to old lady sleeping on the floor, behind. He asks her what she had to say.

Old lady expresses joy and relief that the rath yatra had reached its destination peacefully. But she laments the trauma that they have been through, having lost all that they had; home, clothes, money, jewelry and more. Today they are dependant on others for their basic needs-borrowed clothes, food. Even the government hasn't provided relief. Wonders what the perpetrators got out of the rioting.

She speaks of the atrocities on Muslim women. Says she had never heard of Muslims ever having harmed Hindu women. They had never objected to Hindu neighbour' festivities and revelry as at Ranchchodji's temple. But the same neighbours were the first to attack. Muslim homes were burnt, broken, ransacked. She cursed the perpetrators for what they had done.
Ranchchodji's temple
attacks
curse
neighbours

A male voice interjects that it was horrible that it was all done in the name of God.
Old lady continues to talk of abuse at the hands of the perpetrators of violence and how their walls were plastered with wile abuse, which may still be visible.
God
abuse
walls

a
mentions locality

Interviewer wants to know about the destruction in Naroda Village
Old lady tells him that in Naroda almost 200 houses, all belonging to the rich including hers, were completely destroyed. She went there twice; both times for the survey but couldn't bear to look at the house; its condition was so bad.
Naroda village
houses
survey

Interviewer: Any compensation?
She rues her immense loss and the meager 30,000/- compensation(a woman's voice in the background mentions 15 lakhs). Old lady seeks adequate compensation. Other women's voices join hers in detailing their extensive material loss and the related mental trauma. Not a shred of thread is left there.
Loss
compensation
meager

5-months
Interviewer asks her when they can hope to go back.
She says that they have nowhere to go back to since their homes are
destroyed. They have been in this camp for 5-months as there is no alternative. Women's condition is pitiable; a man can sleep anywhere, but not a woman. She has her honor to think of, her children to care for. The loss of a home is stressful. Why these atrocities (Zulm), she laments?
atrocities (Zulm)
camp
women

Curse
Gita
Quran Sharief
The old lady exhorts religious tolerance, but laments the insult done to Quran Sharief. It was burnt! No such insult to the sacred Gita. She curses the perpetrators of this crime; the richest and his 7-generations would suffer. The Muslims are still keeping their peace.
Tolerance
burnt
insult

Attack
God
Government
Police station
She says that the young man in front was attacked 3-times, but escaped by the Grace of God. They ran to the Police station for succour, only to be told to get out. Desperation made them stay put, but were attacked even within the police station. Police did nothing. The Government did nothing.

Interview
#AD36
rathyatra story
Shot on 13.07.02 12:00am
int with #MN29, m 35+,(a fter passing of rath yatra)- talks about the tension during the rathyatra; about the differences betwn the previous rathyatra & this rathyatra; about mainstream politics & how he was one time targeted for not supporting the congress

13th July:
Interviewer asks a Peace Committee member about the catastrophe that was averted
Catastrophe
Peace Committee

Fanatical
Peace committee
The young man says that it was almost peaceful, when some fanatical elements from the 'other side', with swords in their hands, provoked them with wild gestures and wile abuses. This excited some boys of the minority community. But police and the Peace committee members successfully diffused the crisis, thereby averting a catastrophe.
abuse
provoked
swords

Interviewer asks for more details of the incident
The young man says that at the Peace Committee meeting, the Police was told to not allow lethal weapons in the rath yatra, as it would add to the prevailing tension. The chasm of distrust between the Hindus and Muslims, post 28th February incidents, was still too wide. Despite this, the police did nothing. All the Akharaa (religious groups) members displayed arms openly, which the Muslims didn't object to. But on the 12th they (Hindus) provoked the minority community and some minority boys got agitated. There would have been bloodshed had they not been coaxed away. Police was asked to stay out of it since to stay out of it since Muslims did not trust the Police.
Akhaaras
Peace committee
Police
Rath yatra
bloodshed
distrust
minority

Gujarat
Interviewer asks him about the numbers and type of arms being carried in the rath yatra
This year's Rath yatra saw many more weapons and more lethal than ever before: swords, knives, tridents. These had been distributed at Bajrang Dal's convention and were seen to carry the inscription 'Bajrang Dal, Gujarat'.
Interviewer: Anything else?
Country made revolvers too
Interviewer: with whom?
At least 3-4 people, accompanying those walking below with the akhaaras, carried revolvers. No idea whether or not they had the license to carry them. They were not policemen, but ordinary citizens.
Revolvers
inscribed Bajrang Dal
knives
lethal weapons
swords
tridents

Interviewer points out Government's public announcement that no arms would be allowed
Weapons were carried, despite government's announcement and Police reassurance at the Peace Committee meeting that nothing would be allowed to hurt Muslim sentiments. No one carrying weapons would be allowed to walk through Muslim areas.
Arms
Government
Muslim areas
Peace Committee

He spoke of there being some honest police officials, who work well to create a climate of peace and cooperation, as was seen during the Rath yatra. But this is provided they are given full powers to do so. Though an effort was made, they failed to stop the fascist machinations of some politicians to create tension.
fascist
honest police
politicians

Interviewer wants to know the difference between this year's yatra from previous years
This year, authorities had curtailed the number of trucks, 'akhaaraas' and Bhajan Mandalis (religious groups), hence the Rath yatra moved quickly through the areas. Unlike previous years, the Minority Community faced extreme provocation, leading to tension. Had the Muslims given in to this provocation, they would have suffered the most. Exercising restraint was the only way out. There is never any instigation by the minority community. It has always participated in the rath yatra, serving them water and sharing Prasad. This time it was different and very frightening.
Interviewer: But there is never any tension
No tension at all!
curtailed
frightening
provocation
restraint
tension

Insurance
Interviewer asks about shops which remain closed every year
Post 1986, police have been unable to protect minority's interests, despite assurances. Islam does not permit anyone to claim insurance for material loss. Hence the community keeps all its shops closed. The tension witnessed this time has never been seen before.
Islam
closed
shops

Interviewer asks about any provocation, any abuse
No provocation; maybe a little exchange of abuse took place. Earlier police used to ensure a peaceful passage; this time (yesterday i.e. 12th July) they were silent as though they were under instructions not to take action. When questioned, the minority members were asked to keep quiet lest there be a flare-up in case of any confiscation of arms being carried in the rath Yatra. The minority leaders in turn, advised its young members to exercise restraint
Provocation
abuse
arms
confiscate
police

Interviewer asks the young man about how he was trapped in a case
The young man speaks of the politics of communalism in Gujarat. He was the General Secretary of Gujarat's Youth Janata Dal for almost 3-years; he says that pre-Babri Masjid's demolition in 1992, Muslims in Gujarat trusted the Congress party. But post Babri Masjid, Muslims stopped doing so. People like him did not want to be with the Congress on Ideological grounds because Gujarat, under the Congress rule, had witnessed riots on several occasions, and each time Muslims had suffered. Congress made attempts to break this strength of opposition parties. When he resisted, he was implicated in a false case, arrested and put in local police lock-up for 7-days without any charges. Later he was moved to the Central Jail, from where he was released on bail.
With elections round-the-corner, Police continued to pressurize people like him to work for the Congress. He was determined to divide the Congress' Muslim vote bank; so worked for the Janata Dal candidate. This was a message to the Congress, the BJP and also the Muslim voter that his vote mattered. He was exonerated by the Court in 1996.
Babri Masjid
Congress
Janata Dal
implicated

a
mentions assembly candidate

a
mentions local election candidate

a
mentions local election candidate

Bajrang Dal
Hindu
Interviewer asks him about the Congress ideology he detests and of the Janata Dal he likes
The Congress plays a double game; it takes the Muslim vote for granted even if Muslims are butchered, slaughtered, and doesn't want to upset the Hindu voter either. The Hindu community is being hijacked by a few fanatical elements that appropriate all rights over the community and pretend to be its saviors. The Congress fanned this Ram-naam wildfire and the 50-year Congress rule saw a resurgence of all Hindu fanatical groups. In Gujarat, Bajrang Dal had its first session in Ahmedabad, where swords and tridents were openly distributed; this was repeated at subsequent Bajrang Dal training camps and conventions in Gujarat. It didn't happen during the time of the BJP. The Janata Dal came even later. It stands for socialism, nationalism, of carrying people along.
If the Congress wanted, it could have stopped fanaticism prevented the carnage that gripped Gujarat later.
Muslim vote
Ram Naam
conventions
fanatics
resurgence
swords
training camps
tridents

Interviewer asks if Janata Dal has the same idealism today.
The ideologues that helped Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh found the Janata Dal remain wedded to his ideology. Other opportunists deserted Janata Dal as would rats, a sinking ship. They have found new opportunities with other political parties like the BJP.
Vishwanath Pratap Singh
opportunists

Every society has anti-social elements whether it is the Muslims, Hindus, Christian. Political parties pamper such elements and use them especially during elections. Such elements have no religion; their only religion is money, illegal activities. In Ahmedabad, political parties made a don out of a small time bootlegger. Today he is used by both sides to grab votes. They make a Frankenstein out of a human being, for selfish gains. They can even have him killed, for selfish reasons. BJP leaders openly sought out this Don, from electoral platforms. There is no difference between such politicians and anti-social elements.
Don
anti-social elements
bootlegger

Anamat riots
Dariyapur
Interviewer asks how such elements were used by the Congress.
Only to secure votes!
Interviewer: Was it the same story during the Anamat Riots.
The 1985 Anamat riots were between upper and lower castes. In a bid to stop the riots, the CM Madhavsingh Solanki, gave them a communal turn. This he thought, would settle the Anamat issue, while communal riots were something he could control within 6-7 days. These riots first started in Dariyapur.
Madhavsingh Solanki
communal

Interviewer: How were they instigated?
Not much idea how it happened; but it is not difficult to stir up communal riots in Gujarat.
instigated

Dariyapur
Interviewer: An already fiery situation was given a communal turn?
No recollection of how it happened but there were large-scale Communal riots even then with similar atrocities against the Muslims. I am sure anti-social elements were used, which is why the riots were so widespread. The then PM Rajiv Gandhi wanted to go to Daryapur.
Rajiv Gandhi
anti-social elements

a
give names and address

Interview
Shot on 15.07.02 11:00am
#AD4
#AD4 story
int with #MN30, m 20+ & #MN22, m 25+, boths add: #AD4- both the ppl talks about the attack on the basti & how cops arrested both of them for defending there basti. Interview with #MN22 continued in gme007

carnage
hiding
tolas
Two young men sitting in front of a rehab colony, identify themselves, when asked by the interviewer to do so.
Interviewer asks them to tell all that happened from 27th (February)
First boy says that in his area the carnage happened on the 2nd and not on 28th. The local PSI drove his jeep out of the area when the tolas (murderous mobs) came and gave them all the petrol to burn our place. Police in their civvies didn't allow fires to be put out. 12 boys trying to do so were picked-up and locked-in. They were in there for 3-days and later at the centre for 12-days. So they don't really know what happened in their absence. Even after release, the Police continued to look for them, who had by then gone into hiding. They had just surfaced, 4-5 days back.

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

Carnage
Interviewer asks why they were picked up on the 1st (?)
Boy recounts that when the gangs (tolas) came, the locals were moving their women and children to safety fearing carnage. After the carnage, there were only these 12 boys left who were putting out the fires. The police picked them up. They didn't know what happened thereafter.
Interviewer asks the other man for his version..
Man says that the local PSI aided the marauding mobs by giving them petrol. Later another police vehicle rounded up the boys who were putting out the fires.
First boy interjects to put the blame on the local PSI for giving petrol to the mob, who even opened fire to make Muslims run into their homes. That's when they started burning homes. And there was no escape since homes were ablaze; police had surrounded them from the other 2-sides; so their only escape route was where police picked them up from. Police beat them so badly that one or two lost consciousness. They were separated and put in the local lock up, so unaware of what happened thereafter.
PSI,
gangs (tolas)

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
interviewer mentions inspector #MN4

Interviewer asks them where they were when the PSI came in the jeep
The first boy says that they were hiding in a run down house on the outskirts, near the road.
Interviewer asks if they had seen it happen
Yes, they had.
Interviewer asks what they were doing when the police came
First boy says they were pulling out their belongings and family members from their homes. There was no option! Once none was left in the house, the cop had it all burnt.
Interviewer asks if they anticipated house-burning before vacating their homes
First boy reiterates that they were sure because they saw the local police with the mobs.
Interviewer asks about his family
The boy has a mother, 4 brothers and 2 sisters, all younger than him.
PSI
house-burning

a
interviewer mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions nearby locality

Interviewer asks the 2nd man what he was doing then
The man, now reduced to being a daily wage earner, said that he was trying to flee his home with his 3-children and wife. But he hid in the run down house by the road when he saw the PSI giving petrol to the goons. He wanted to save his other family members too. The PSI came and kicked open the door where they were hiding and picked them up. There was no question of attacking the attackers. Today he is jobless.
PSI
children
daily wage earner
flee
petrol
wife

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

Agra
Interviewer asks about his work place
Worked at a shop, whose owner ran away fearing the riots. He was from Agra.
fear
riots
shop

Interviewer asks if The PSI stayed back after the carnage or went away
The first man replies that the PSI was around till 5pm, taking rounds. But when he didn't see anyone return to blazing houses, he left. Came back the next morning and not seeing a soul around and houses still ablaze, he went away. He was later transferred out of here.
PSI
blazing houses

a
interviewer mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions locality

Interviewer asks how this man was picked up when he was saving his family
After ensuring family members' safety, they came back to check what was happening. They saw him giving diesel from 3 police jeeps to the gangs.
diesel
family
police jeeps

Interviewer asks why they didn't run when they saw homes being set on fire
First man says they were surrounded by the Police. No way out! They would have been shot if attempted to run. So stayed put and was picked up by them.
Interviewer asked why they didn't say they were innocent
Young man says the more they said they were innocent, the more they were beaten up. They got no food for 3-days in the police lock-up and were beaten and abused when they asked for food.
Innocent
abused
beaten

a
mentions activist's name

Interviewer asks if their well wisher didn't try to get them freed
Man says he did try but even he couldn't come to the Police station because of the raging riots. Even the phone lines were cut off. He couldn't do anything.
phone lines
well-wisher

a
mentions activist's name

Central Jail
Interviewer on the treatment they got in Central Jail
Man says that they were treated well there.
Interviewer wants to know if there were others like them at the central Jail
Yes! there were lots of people there.
Interviewer asks what those people had to say.
Those from also blamed the PSI who picked them up forcibly from their homes. All simple boys! Some of them are still behind bars; not getting bail.
Interviewer asks if he had got bail
Yes!
How many days later?
15-days later.
Interviewer: who got you bail?
2nd man replies that they were behind bars; so didn't know
First one says that the bail papers carried activit's signature. Each one was given bail individually on the basis of their land and house records' papers.
PSI
bail
treatment

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions activist's name

Interviewer on the section applied?
No idea about the specific section but there were so many listed there. Never got into this court business!
Interviewer on the attack on 28th night
man says attacks began on 28th but no arson that night.
Interviewer wants details of the attack
Man says on the 28th they threw stones, petrol bombs, (kakade?). No retaliation from these people who stayed indoors. Outside, the police would open fire. Houses were burnt, but they managed to put out the fires. But on the 2nd it was bad. The PSI aided the arson by giving them petrol, diesel. First houses outside were set ablaze and later those inside too. He was with them, aiding, abusing!
PSI
Section applied
petrol bombs

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions nearby locality and inspector #MN4

Interviewer asks who was abused.
man says those living at the back, one of their own (Hindus) because they had sheltered some people, especially women for 2-days, and had later dropped them off safely at the camp. They too would have been killed if those people had not denied
Interviewer: How did they know that they were sheltering people?
The police told them since police had seen them while on their rounds.
sheltering
women

mobs
police firing

a
mention of nearby localities

a
mentions nearby localities

a
mentions activist's name

Interviewer asks how many days did the police firing go on?
Firing was on for 3-days
On which dates?
28th, 1st and 2nd. By the 2nd all the boys were fed up of Police beating inside their homes. It was better to step out and die. A small group of marauders could be tackled, but not when the mob was 10-15 thousand (?) strong. There were about 100-150 odd policemen also with them, who were ready to open fire. How could 4-5 people stand up to them? They started the arson so everyone ran to the backside and this saved them, else many would have died. They misbehaved with women as they had done in Naroda Patiya. It was unbearable.
Naroda Patiya
arson
women

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

Interviewer asks when it became apparent to them that a Naroda Patiya could happen to their area too.
The young man says that they received a call from the police in the night. Police were hand-in-glove with the attackers. A Muslim boys who was caught by them and made to stand in the midst of the mob, heard them discuss that 10-15 would not make a difference; many more were needed for large-scale arson. He cautioned, so women were moved to safety. By 1pm, homes were burnt down. People were forced to run to the camp, where thankfully everyone was taken care of for 3-days.
Naroda patiya
arson
camp
police

Interviewer asks if it was just his story or a common one.
2nd man had been in police custody for 14 days, so didn't know what happened after he left, while the first one experienced hell in freedom. Only relief was at the camp, where private and individual efforts brought succour. Government aid came after 3-days.
Relief
camp

Interviewer asks if they were put in the jail together.
yes, together, 7-8 to a room. There were those from other areas too.
Jail
other areas

Interviewer asks why they were arrested.
Only one reason; had the boys been around, they would have put out the arsonists' fires to save their homes.
arrested
arsonists

Chhapra
Interviewer asks if the chhapra (roofs?) was set on fire after the boys had been taken away?
yes, afterwards
Around what time?
arrests were made around 2pm, at the time of the Namaaz.
what time was the Chhapra burnt?
Those outside were burnt around 1pm; inside later when people sat for lunch. everyone ran out to flee, but police around made it impossible to run away; got caught. The 10 thousand strong mobs entered every home; indulged in loot and arson.
Namaaz
arson
flee
loot
mobs

Interviewer asks first young man to recount the events of 28th February; how many ran away and how many were left behind
On the 28th, there was nothing except stone pelting by attackers. On the 1st, only one house behind the bridge was set afire, which was put-out. On the 2nd, they burnt outside houses
What time?
Mob (tola) came at 6 in the morning. Locals fought back. Then police came and burst teargas shells. People ran to wash their eyes; the mob was pushed back. Police too went back. At about 11 am, people sat down for some breakfast.
fire
stone pelting
teargas shells
tola (mobs)

At about 11 am, mobs returned. One boy went out to check and call the police. Police came but caught the boy and pushed him to stand in the midst of the mob. He heard them say that just 10-15 people could not attack effectively. Many more needed. On his information, that Police was hand-in-glove with the attackers, women were moved to safety. Some young boys too escaped leaving just about 10-12 boys behind. When mobs arrived all ran inside since they didn't want to fight. Came out to investigate rising smoke, and found surrounded on all sides by attackers and police. They threw petrol bombs, forcing them to run indoors. But police was all over their homes. That goon PSI had alerted the police; crime branch people in Mufti were also there. One of them threatened to line up all and shoot them down, but another Crime Branch man said to put a case on everyone. So cases were registered against all. Sword-wielding Mob surrounded the police station; there too the Crime guys saved these boys. Without them, this PSI could have got everyone bumped off.
Crime Branch
Mob
Mufti
PSI
petrol bombs
police
sword-wielding mob

a
mentions inspector #MN4

a
mentions inspector #MN4

Interviewer asks details of the case filed
Case was of fighting with and opening fire on the police. Nothing of the sort had happened.
case
police

Interviewer wants to know how that one boy was caught and taken away and how did these people get him out of the mob's clutches
That boy always sat outside so that's where they picked him up from. Two or three people went out and on their pleas the police let him go, cautioning that he should not be seen outside.
mob
police

a
mentions activists' names

Interviewer asks why did these 20-25 people stay back when all others had left?
Women had to be moved to safety; there were our belongings here, so someone had to stay back. There was less arson, more loot.
Interviewer asks how 25-30 people could ward off an anticipated mob of 10,000.
Wanted to see if we could, or else we too would run away
anticipated
arson & loot
belongings
mob
women